Making community connections and having long-term recovery plans have been two of the big post-flood outcomes, the North West Flood Recovery Summit has heard.
Mental health professionals, graziers, and officials came together for the summit in Cloncurry on Wednesday to discuss the effect of the disastrous February floods and look at strategies to prepare themselves in case crisis strikes again.
The Summit consisted of reflections and updates on mental health and future recovery needs and responses to improve social and emotional well-being.
Western Primary Health Network CEO Stuart Gordon said the summit was a chance to work out what areas need the most help.
"What we are finding is the most important message is the connection with community stakeholders," Mr Gordon said. "We are creating an opportunity to have an honest conversation on what is working well and what is not working well.
"We also need to make sure we have a plan ready to go and that we are prepared in case another disaster flood hits."
Mr Gordon said the services in Cloncurry had been supporting each other. "Traditional behaviours have been broken down, there's more collaboration, some services have even started after hour care and there is more recognition of non clinical services," he said.
Mr Gordon said this approach was important because the attitudes to care were different in the country.
"Country people tend to be more stoic so they work through stuff all the time," he said. "Stoicism recognises individuals have strength to get through adversity. People in the bush have different views on accessing care and we have to customise ways to make the services more approachable."
Mr Gordon said there were always risk factors. "People think there's a tablet they can take that will fix their problem and it's not like that, you do have to some heavy lifting yourself."
Royal Flying Doctor Service CEO Meredith Staib said the RFDS now understood their plan for the flood recovery will be a five-year plan.
"We are engaging with the community and have been since the floods hit this region, and from this we now know this a long term issue with long term plans needed," Ms Staib said.
"From this we are creating care pathways, raising awareness and giving people tools to prepare for another crisis."
Head of the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency Shane Stone said from the summit he has gotten an overall view of where everyone is at.
"There are many contributors here today and everyone is giving their voice," Mr Stone said.
